She's a third-grade teacher, a mother and the wife of a man whom some people would reduce to the phrase "illegal immigrant."

But there's always a human story behind a label.

In 1990, Gaspar Hernandez was a 19-year-old from a village north of Mexico City who made his way to the border and walked into the United States illegally. After working in California and Florida for a few years, he moved to Ohio and found work at a Bob Evans restaurant on Polaris Parkway.

In 1999, he met Sheryl Jenkins, an 18-year-old Bowling Green State University student who had a summer job as a waitress.

"My parents were a little nervous because he was 10 years older than I was," Sheryl said. "But he was just one of those guys you meet and you can see what a good person he is in his eyes."

They wed in 2002 and moved into a comfortable split-level house that her parents owned in Delaware County. Their son, Aidan, was born in 2004.

Gaspar was known as a

model father and husband.

"The rock of their family," said Carol Weiss, pastor of Sheryl's church, Condit Presbyterian.

In 2005, Gaspar made a fateful decision: He would return to Mexico to visit his dying grandmother.

"He hadn't seen her in 15 years," Sheryl said. "Talking on the phone wasn't a choice, because she was going deaf. He was like 'I need to say goodbye.' "

After a week's visit, Gaspar again entered the United States illegally. But this time, he got caught.

There might have been a time when an undocumented worker with an American family would have been treated leniently. But in a post-Sept. 11 world, things are tougher.

Gaspar spent several weeks in jail before agreeing to a "voluntary departure." He had to return to Mexico and petition to re-enter the United States.

That was 2½ years ago. Since then, Gaspar and Sheryl have pleaded their case -- without success -- to immigration authorities. (A spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said privacy rules bar her from commenting.)

The family has set up a Web site (reunitefamily.org) to tell the story. More than 70 people have added testimonials, describing Gaspar as kind, hardworking and devoted. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, has also made inquiries on the family's behalf.

Family members say Gaspar has been turned down for a green card and told he can't apply again until 2015.

The last hope might be "humanitarian parole," which allows a noncitizen into the country for up to a year to relieve hardship. In addition to the emotional strain, Sheryl, who teaches at Zenith Academy in Columbus, has Crohn's disease, a digestive disorder aggravated by stress.

Still, it's a long shot, said Kristie Lumakin, an attorney who is helping the family. "Maybe less than 5 percent are granted."

Sheryl has traveled to Mexico several times to see her husband (on one such trip, Isabela was conceived) and Aidan spent Christmas vacation in his father's village.

But most of their contact is by phone. They talk every day. During a recent conversation, Gaspar's voice was soft and strained.

"I missed the country and everyone," he said. "I miss it. I want to go home, but I don't know how."

Joe Blundo is a Dispatch columnist.

jblundo@dispatch.com

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